At Milieu, we love the challenge of a tricky brief and finding clever design solutions for small spaces. So what better way to test our skills on a compact scale than designing a high-end luxury dog-house for a charitable cause? In September 2019 we were invited to submit an entry to the inaugural BarkHaus competition along with 12 top Auckland Architects. The aim of the competition was to raise money and awareness for Pet Refuge, who provide shelter for animals whose families are escaping situations of domestic violence. Milieu’s office dog Wilbur was the muse for our sun lounger meets dog house design that incorporates indoor / outdoor flow, poolside refreshments and most importantly, a game of tug. The competition was tough, but we made it through the first round of public voting where the entries were whittled down to the top three. The final designs were built at full scale and assigned a real estate agent who marketed the houses and held doggie open homes. A charity auction was held at the Saphire Room in Ponsonby and we are thrilled that our entry raised $6500 for this great cause.